Solvent-free process for obtaining phospholipids and neutral enriched krill oils

ABSTRACT

The invention discloses a new solvent-free process for obtaining phospholipids and neutral lipids enriched krill oils containing DHA and EPA poly-unsaturated fatty acids and astaxanthin. The process includes cooking fresh krill at high temperature-without agitation and or grinding; decanting the cooked krill for obtaining a partial de-fatted and de-watered solid and a liquid; squeezing the obtained solid to obtain a press liquid and a solid fraction; centrifuging the press liquid to obtain the phospholipids enriched krill oil; centrifuging of the decanter liquid obtained to obtain the neutral lipid enriched krill oil and stickwater.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This is application is a 371 of PCT/IB2009/007269 filed Oct. 30, 2009, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to processes for obtaining krill oil with polyunsaturated fatty acid DHA and EPA in the phospholipids fraction, with astaxanthin, and neutral lipids coming from the meal processing line, used for human health applications while the resulting krill meal will have a low fat content. This invention also discloses a procedure for obtaining a dried complex that contains krill oil in combination with phospholipids linked to DHA and EPA, proteins and astaxanthin for the use on human health human applications.

BACKGROUND ART

Krill corresponds to a group of small and abundant marine crustaceans in the order Euphasiaceae, living in the pristine Antarctic Ocean that is considered the feed base of all the Antarctic eco-system. The Antarctic krill, in particular those that live at the Antarctic and sub-Antarctic regions, are composed of 11 Euphasia species, being dominant Euphausia superba, Dana and Euphausia crystallorophias.

In recent years, krill has acquired great interest as a potential source of protein and other active biological products (Ellingsen, T. and Mohr, V. 1979. Process Bioch. 14:14; Suzuki, T. 1981. Fish and krill protein processing technology. London, Applied Science Publishers). The large expectation ciphered in the South Antarctic krill is based on the large biomass in the Antarctic ocean, which is estimated to be between 100 to 500 millions tons. It has been suggested that captures of krill could reach up to 50-100 millions tons/year, a quantity that is equivalent to the total fish capture in the world (Budzinski, E., Bykowski, P. and Dutkiewicz, D. 1986. Posibilidades de elaboracioń y comercialización de productos preparados a partir de krill del Antartico, FAO Doc. T,c. Pesca (268):47p).

There are several publications related to the krill lipid content and composition (Grantham, G. J. 1977. The Southern Ocean. The utilization of Krill. Southern Ocean Fisheries Survey Programme, Rome. FAO GLO/SO/77/3:63p; Budzinski et al. 1986. Loc. cit.; Ellingsen and Mohr. 1979. Loc. cit.). The lipid content is about 10-26% of the krill dry weight, depending on the season of the year and its sexual maturity as well as body size. Usually the krill fatty period is between March to June each year. The female krill has near double the amount of lipids than the male. The lipid concentration increases with age and decreases rapidly after the spawning. Krill lipids distribution studies showed that lipid rich areas are located along the digestive tract, between the muscle bundles and under the exoskeleton (Saether, O., Ellingsen, T. and Mohr, V. 1985. Compo Biochem. Physiol. 81B:609).

The main krill lipid fractions include triglycerides, phospholipids, as well as its sterols and esters (Grantham. 1977. Loc. cit.; Budzinski et al. 1986. Loc. cit.). The average content of phospholipids is about 69% and triglycerides about 26%. The krill phospholipids fraction, rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, particularly 20:5 and 22:6, correspond to approximately 50% of total phospholipids.

There are several publications describing Krill lipid composition. The following being the most relevant among them:

-   1. Gordeev et al. described that E. superba contains about 5% of its     natural weight of extractable lipids, more than half of which are in     the form of phospholipids-phosphatidylcholine (33-36% of the lipids     total), phosphatidylethanolamine (15-17%), lysophosphatidylcholine     (3-4%), others (2-3%)-while triacylglycerols predominate (32-35%)     among the phosphorus-free components. In the first two phospholipids     the dominating fatty acid residue is the arachidonic acid residue     (more than 40% of the acyl residues total) and the amount of     eicosapentaenoic acid residues (C20:5w3) are about 13 and 28%,     respectively. (Gordeev, K. Y. et al. 1990. Fatty acid composition of     the main phospholipids of the Antarctic krill Euphausia superb.     Chemistry of Natural Compounds. 26: 143-147). -   2. Fricke et al. described that Euphausia superba Dana lipid     composition was phosphatidylcholine (33-36%),     phosphatidylethanolamine (5-6%), triacylglycerol (33-40%), free     fatty acids (8-16%) and sterols (1.4-1.7%). Wax esters and sterol     esters were present only in traces. More than 50 fatty acids could     be identified and the major ones being 14:0, 16:0, 16:1(n-7),     18:1(n-9), 18:1(n-7), 20:5(n-3) and 22:6(n-3). Phytanic acid was     found in a concentration of 3% of total fatty acids. Short,     medium-chain and hydroxy fatty acids (C≦0) were not detectable. The     sterol fraction consisted of cholesterol, desmosterol and     22-dehydrocholesterol. (Fricke, H. et al. 2006. Lipid, sterol and     fatty acid composition of Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba Dana).     Lipids, 19:821-827). -   3. Falk-Petersen et al described that lipids of Arctic and Antarctic     euphausiids show a seasonally-dependent high lipid content, and     neutral lipids, whether wax esters or triacylglycerols, are     primarily accumulated for reproduction. The Arctic Thysanoessa     inermis and the Antarctic Euphausia crystallorophias contain high     levels of wax esters and higher concentrations of 18:4(n-3) and     20:5(n-3) and a lower ratio of 18:1(n-9)/(n-7) fatty acids in their     neutral lipids than those in the Arctic Thysanoessa raschii and the     Antarctic Thysanoessa macrura and Euphausia superba. Large amounts     of phytol in the lipids of T. raschii and E. crystallorophias during     winter suggest the ingestion of decaying algae originated from     sedimenting material or in sea ice. Thysanoessa raschii, T. macrura,     and E. superba have a high ratio of 18:1(n-9)/(n-7) fatty acids,     indicating animal carnivory (Falk-Petersen, S. et al. 2000. Lipids,     trophic relationships, and biodiversity in Arctic and Antarctic     krill. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 57: 178-191). -   4. Clarke described lipid content and composition of the Antarctic     krill Euphausia superba. Female total lipid content increases during     the summer as the ovary matures, and there is also some evidence of     an increase in the lipid content of males and immatures as winter     approaches. The storage lipid is mainly triacylglycerol and there is     less than 1% wax ester. Fatty acids are moderately unsaturated,     though less so in the ovarian lipid, and the triacylglycerol     contains up to 4% phytanic acid (Clarke A. 1984. Lipid content and     composition of Antarctic krill, Euphausia superba Dana. J. Crust.     Biol. 4:285-294). -   5. Phleger et al. described lipid compositions of Antarctic     euphausiids, Euphausia superba, E. tricantha, E. frigida and     Thysanoessa macrura collected near Elephant Island during 1997     and 1998. Total lipid was highest in E. superba small juveniles (16     mg g-1 wet mass), ranging from 12 to 15 mg in other euphausiids.     Polar lipid (56-81% of total lipid) and triacylglycerol (12-38%)     were the major lipids with wax esters (6%) only present in E.     tricantha. Cholesterol was the major sterol (80-100% of total     sterols) with desmosterol second in abundance (1-18%). 1997 T.     macrura and E. superba contained a more diverse sterol profile,     including 24-nordehydrocholesterol (0.1-1.7%),     trans-dehydrocholesterol (1.1-1.5%), brassicasterol (0.5-1.7%),     24-methylenecholesterol (0.1-0.4%) and two stanols (0.1-0.2%).     Monounsaturated fatty acids included primarily 18:1(n-9)c (7-21%),     18:1(n-7)c (3-13%) and 16:1 (n-7)c (2-7%). The main saturated fatty     acids in krill were 16:0(18-29%), 14:0 (2-15%) and 18:0 (1-13%).     Highest eicosapentaenoic acid [EPA, 20:5(n-3)] and docosahexaenoic     acid [DHA, 22:6(n-3)] occurred in E. superba (EPA, 15-21%; DHA,     9-14%), and were less abundant in other krill. Lower levels of     18:4(n-3) in E. tricantha, E jrigida and T. macrura (0.4-0.7% of     total fatty acids) are more consistent with a carnivorous or     omnivorous diet as compared with herbivorous E. superba (3.7-9.4%).     The polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) 18:5(n-3) and the very-long     chain (VLC-PUFA), C(26) and C(28) PUFA, were not present in 1997     samples, but were detected at low levels in most 1998 euphausiids     (phleger, C. F. 2002. Interannual and between species comparison of     the lipids, fatty acids and sterols of Antarctic krill from the US     AMLR Elephant Island survey area. Comp Biochem Physiol B Biochem     Mol. Biol. 131:733-747). -   6. Kolakowska described lipid compositions of seven krill (Euphausia     superba D.) samples, fresh and after various periods of storage at     251K (Kelvin Degrees). Fresh krill lipid composition differed from     that determined in frozen samples, depending on storage duration,     season of harvest, and developmental stage. Phospholipids proved     most susceptible to changes, as opposed to triglycerides, which were     most resistant; diglycerides and cholesterol esters were also     destroyed. The freezing process per-se affected the lipid     composition only slightly; however, after 30 days storage the amount     of free fatty acids almost doubled. After 6 months storage at 251°     K, 70% of phospholipids were decomposed and the amount of free fatty     acids increased by a factor of 6 to 20. Monoglycerides, absent from     fresh krill, appeared after several months of frozen storage.     Juvenile krill were more susceptible to lipolytic changes. Females     bearing mature eggs contained stable phospholipids; only     triglycerides were hydrolysed (Kolakowska A. 1986. Lipid composition     of fresh and frozen-stored krill. Z Lebensm Unters Forsch.     182:475-478. -   7. Bottino described lipid compositions of two Antarctic     euphausiids. In Euphausia superba complex lipids were the major     lipid class followed by triglycerides. In E. crystallorophias the     complex lipids were also the major lipid class, but the second major     constituent was wax. The complex lipids of both Euphausiids     consisted mostly of phosphatidylcholine with smaller amounts of     phosphatidylethanolamine and lysophosphatidylcholine. The     phospholipids of E. crystallorophias were less unsaturated than     those of E. sllperba. The waxes of E. crystallorophias were mostly     esters of oleic (84%) and palmitoleic (10%) acids with     n-tetradecanol (69%) and n-hexadecanol (28%) (Bottino, N. R. 1975.     Lipid composition of two species of Antarctic krill: Euphausia     superba and E. crystallorophias. Comp Biochem Physiol B.     50:479-484). -   8. EP1997498 and WO02/102394 owned by Neptune Technologies &     Bioressources Inc. Relate to Neptune krill oil that corresponds to     acetone extracted krill lipids. Proteins and krill material are     removed from the lipid extract through filtration. The acetone and     residual water are removed by evaporation. The phospholipids content     is 38-50%, and EPA and DHA is 22-35%, wherein the major amount of     these omega-3's are attached to phospholipids. -   9. US2008/0274203 and WO 20081117062 owned by Aker Biomarine ASA.     These applications disclose a new krill oil composition     characterized by high amounts of phospholipids, astaxanthin esters     and/or omega-3. This krill oil is characterized by comprising about     30-60% w/w phospholipids and about 20-35% omega-3 fatty acid wherein     the major amount of these omega-3 lipids are attached to     phospholipids.

The high content of polyunsaturated fatty acids in the phospholipidic fraction could be necessary to keep the plasmatic membrane fluidity at low temperatures in the Antarctic oceans. A high unsaturation level might be required to give the krill phospholipids deposits the necessary plasticity for the animal flectation and motion at low temperatures.

An increase of the total lipids present in the hill is accompanied with both a decrease in the phospholipids and an increase in the triglycerides. The polyunsaturated fatty acid content decreases as the content of total lipids increase (Saether et al. 1985. Loc. cit.). Post-mortem changes that occur in krill lipids showed that during the krill storage at 0° C. the polyunsaturated fatty acids (20:5, 22:6) compared to the content of fatty acids (16:0) do not decrease. These data suggest that during the krill storage at 0° C. a large oxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids after the crustacean death does not occur.

There are several documents describing industrial processes to obtain krill oil. These documents are:

-   1. Budzinski et al. (1986. Loc. cit.) and Saether et al. (1985. Loc.     cit.), described procedures for krill lipid extraction with     different organic solvents. -   2. CA2346979, ES2306527 or UA75029, documents presented by     Universite de Sherbrooke. This document described a method to     extract lipid fraction from marine and aquatic animals, including     krill, using acetone extraction. -   3. WO2006/106325 presented by Pro-Bio Group AS. This document     described a process to obtain phospholipids from krill. This process     comprises contacting the krill meal with an organic solvent to     produce a lipid containing liquid. Optionally this liquid is     extracted with other organic solvents to extract neutral lipids. The     remaining fraction is a phospholipids enriched fraction. -   4. EP1997498 and WO02/102394 presented by Neptune Technologies &     Bioressources Inc. These documents describe lipid extraction from     krill or krill derived material utilizing ketone solvents,     preferably acetone. -   5. GB407729 presented by Johan Olsen Nygaard. This patent describes     a method to extract oil from marine animals, in particular whale and     other sea mammals, by heating in bath of oil. This document is     different from our invention because is not applied to krill and     utilizes heated oil for lipid extraction. Our invention does not use     heated oil for phospholipids extraction.

These five documents describe the utilization of organic solvents, particularly acetone, to extract krill lipid fractions. These methods being different from the procedure disclosed herein, as the method declared in the present invention does not utilize organic solvents for extracting or purifying lipid fractions from Antarctic krill.

-   1. JP58008037, Nippon Suisan Kaisha Ltd. This document describes a     method to obtain eicosapentaenoic acid or derivatives from Antarctic     krill oil. Krill oil is converted into free fatty acid or an ester     thereof by the conventional method, e.g. saponification or     alcoholysis, being the resultant product continuously distilled to     collect a main fraction of distillate containing 40 wt % or more     titled substance. The main fraction of distillate is then treated     with urea to remove low unsaturated fatty acids. This document     differs from the present invention through the use of a distillation     process for lipid purification. -   2. JP2004024060 (Nippon Suisan Kaisha Ltd). This document describes     a procedure for obtaining an astaxanthin enriched lipid fraction     from Antarctic krill. This document declares a different process     from the one declared in the present invention in that the instant     process aim is not the astaxanthin production. -   3. US2005/0274203 (Aker Biomarine ASA). This document describes a     procedure for obtaining krill oil from krill meal using     supercritical fluid extraction in a two-stage process. Stage 1     removes the neutral lipid by extracting with neat supercritical CO₂     or CO₂ plus approximately 5% of a co-solvent. Stage 2 extracts the     actual krill oils by using supercritical CO₂ in combination with     approximately 20% ethanol. This document differs from the present     invention as this procedure does not use supercritical fluid     extraction. -   4. WO2007/080514 (Krill A/S and Alfa Laval Copenhagen A/S),     describes a method for extracting lipid fractions from krill,     wherein freshly captured krill is grinded to obtain a slurry, which     is gently heated to a temperature below 60° C., preferably bellow     30° C., for less than 45 minutes, thereafter the liquid splits into     an aqueous phase and a krill oil phase from which a krill oil     extract is derived without the use of organic solvents. This     document reveals a process different from the one declared in the     instant invention as the present procedure does not grind the     captured krill before heating. This document is also different since     the heating temperature declared in the instant process is >90° C.     Another main difference regarding the process declared in this     document is that grinded krill used to produce slurry before heating     produces an emulsification that impedes the phospholipids separation     by centrifugation. In the present invention a slurry is not directly     or indirectly produced. Further in WO2007/080514 is used ultrasound     for krill oil separation while the present invention does not use     any type of ultrasound technology. It also proposes a simple     extraction while the present invention is based in a     double-extraction principle. -   5. WO2007080515 (Aker Biomarine ASA) describes a process for     obtaining krill lipids by processing the krill at a temperature     below 60° C. with mechanical and physical disruption of the lipid     cell membrane to facilitate low temperature extraction. This process     takes place under inert gas atmosphere to prevent oxidation or     denaturation of fat and proteins. Intermediate processing tanks are     kept at a minimum level to reduce residence time; and the oil after     recovery is immediately frozen to stabilize it. This document     differs from the present invention since the instant procedure does     not grind the captured krill to facilitate lipid extraction, instead     a heating temperature of >90° C. is used; further the process of the     present invention does not use any type of gases or freezing     technologies. -   6. WO2008/060163 (Pronova Biopharma Norge AS), describes a procedure     for obtaining krill oil-using CO₂ at supercritical pressure     containing ethanol, methanol, propanol or isopropanol. This document     is different from the present invention because the present     procedure does not use CO₂ supercritical lipid extraction with or     without solvent. -   7. WO2009/027692 (Aker Biomarine ASA), describes a method for krill     meal production. This procedure uses a two-step cooking process. In     the first step the proteins and phospholipids are removed from the     krill and precipitated as a coagulum. In the second stage the krill     without phospholipids are cooked. Following this, residual fat and     astaxanthin are removed from the krill using mechanical separation     methods. In this method, krill is heated to 60-75° C. in the     presence of water to dissolve/disperse lipids and proteins to the     water phase, called krill milk. This krill milk was heated to     95-100° C. to remove as a precipitate the krill protein and lipids     from the water phase. The processes of the present invention differ     from those disclosed in this document since the krill oil is not     separated from the crustacean by precipitation and the multiple     heating steps are avoided.

From current traditional krill meal processing on board, in some factory vessels, only a small amount of krill oil is produced. This krill oil is usually enriched in neutral lipids with very low or undetectable amount of phospholipids (0.5%). Normally, during the traditional on board krill process, fresh krill is heated using an indirect heating cooker with rotating screw conveyor, followed by a twin-screw press and drier. The press liquid obtained by the twin-screw press is passed through a decanter to remove the insoluble solids. The clarified decanter liquid is then used to feed separators centrifuges to separate the krill oil normally enriched with neutral lipids and astaxanthin. In this traditional process the phospholipids are bound to the proteins in the press cake. Therefore, phospholipids are usually found associated to the krill meal. In the krill fatty period, the fat content in the krill meal is usually 16-18%. In the same krill fatty period, the yield of the neutral lipid-enriched krill oil obtained using the traditional krill meal plant is low, ranging usually between 0.3-1.0% from raw krill. This neutral lipid-enriched krill oil contains astaxanthin ranging between 700-1,500 mg/kg depending on the season and the fishing ground catching.

Moreover, when a non-traditional hill meal processing layout is used, a similar situation explained above was obtained. Normally, the non-traditional krill meal plant considered a contherm cooker system, a two-phase decanter or three-phase decanter and a drier. These decanters are used for de-watering and de-fatting the cooked krill. The decanter liquid is used to feed the centrifuge separators to obtain usually a neutral lipid-enriched krill oil with low or undetectable levels of phospholipids (0.5%). In this case, the phospholipids are also bound to the proteins in the decanter solids. As described above, phospholipids are found in the krill meal.

In this case, the yield of neutral lipid-enriched krill oil from the non-traditional krill meal plant is much lower, in the fatty period ranging from 0.1 to 0.4% of raw krill. In this process a conventional contherm cooker system is used which has inherent agitation (scraped knife). Therefore, the processed krill is agitated and also minced. This agitation/mincing process produce lipid emulsification along with krill proteins and water. Besides, krill phospholipids catalyze the emulsification because these lipids act as an emulsifier agent. For this reason, using a non-traditional krill meal process, higher lipid content is bound to the decanter solids. In the krill fatty period, the fat content of the decanter liquid has a lipid content ranging from 1.0 to 2.5%, the resultant stick water has a yellow color and it is emulsified, with a fat content ranging from 0.7 to 1.6%, the krill meal has a fat content ranging from 20 to 26%, and the krill oil recovery by this nontraditional process is very low.

The lipid composition and fatty acid profile of neutral lipid-enriched krill oil obtained using the traditional and non-traditional krill meal processing are very similar: triglycerides about 86-89%, phospholipids not detected (0.5%), and DHA and EPA about 4-6%.

Several efforts have been made to produce a krill meal with a lower fat content and phospholipids enriched krill oil containing DHA and EPA, through an industrial scale method associated to a krill meal plant. Several different cooking temperatures, different decanting torque, strong pressing, using two decanting steps, washing the first decanter solids with stick water before the second decanter, electroplasmolysis and so on have been tested. However, the results have not been successful.

Focusing on the problem to separate phospholipids-enriched krill oil with DHA and EPA, some extraction methods have been developed and patent protected.

The patent application CL 1021 1995 (Compañia Tepual S. A) refers to a method for obtaining krill oil using thermal fractionation and centrifugation. This oil obtaining process claims that the fatty acids types and lipids composition can be regulated controlling the krill cooking temperature during the process of oil production. At high cooking temperature (95° C.) lower yield of poly-unsaturated and phospholipids fractions were obtained as compared when the cooking temperature was reduced (75° C.). Also this oil process claims that main components of its fractional composition correspond to triglycerides being 35 to 96%; and phospholipids from 4 to 28%. The poly-unsaturated fatty acids ranged from 4 to 46%. Basically this process used for obtaining krill oil, considers krill cooking, pressing the cooked krill and the passing the press liquid through a two-phase decanter to separate the insoluble solids, being the oil separated from the decanter liquid using centrifuge separator. During this process only one type of krill oil was obtained.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention discloses a new on board (at sea) and/or on shore (on land) process for simultaneously obtaining both: 1) phospholipids enriched krill oil and 2) neutral lipid enriched krill oil containing DHA and EPA poly-unsaturated fatty acids and astaxanthin. Antarctic krill oil is particularly rich in DHA and EPA containing phospholipids. Because the amphipathic nature of phospholipids, i.e. a negative charged phosphate group in one end and a hydrophobic lipid in the other end, this lipid is a very potent emulsifier agent. Krill grinding and/or mincing induce emulsification of soluble proteins, water, neutral lipids and phospholipids. Therefore, once the emulsion is formed, phospholipids can be obtained from krill mixtures only by organic solvent or CO₂ supercritical extractions. See WO021102394 and US2008/0274203 as example.

In the present invention a new procedure for phospholipids extraction from fresh krill or other similar crustaceans is disclosed. This procedure is based on a process where no grinding, agitation and/or mincing of the krill is carried out. Using this method substantially no phospholipids-catalyzed emulsification occurs. Cooking of whole intact krill or fraction produces the release of a liquid from the crustaceans. The oil contained in this liquid is enriched with neutral lipids. The whole and intact krill was further squeezed to obtain a new liquid fraction. The oil obtained by centrifugation of this second fraction is enriched in phospholipids. The resultant squeezed krill is used to obtain a low fat krill meal.

The present invention allows a much more efficient extraction process and is preferably done almost immediately after raw or fraction of krill has been captured at sea. The present invention, which is preferably done onboard, which allows having a much more controlled extraction process, allowing a dramatic reduction in not-necessary logistic transshipment, raw material and cargo handling. Other advantages of the present invention include the “finished product” character of the end product which is obtained on the same premises where capture and processing takes place.

The process of the present invention can also be used with other similar crustacean species whether they are farmed or captured crustaceans, such as but not limited to Pandalus borealis, Cervimunidajohni, Heterocarpus reedi, Pleuroncodes monodom, Penaeus vannamei, Penaeus monodon, Penaeus stylirostris, Penaeus chinensis, Penaeus. orientalis, Penaeus japonicus, Penaeus in dicus, Penaeus merguiensis, Penaeus esculentus, Penaeus setiferus, Macrobrachium spp, and others.

Therefore, the process disclosed in this invention includes the steps of:

-   -   a) cooking whole fresh krill and/or a fraction thereof at high         temperature for protein denaturation, without agitating,         grinding and/or mincing in this step, neither in further         processing steps;     -   b) decanting the cooked krill from step a) using a decanter with         high torque to obtain a partially de-fatted and de-watered solid         and a decanter liquid;     -   c) squeezing the partially de-fatted and de-watered solid from         step b) through a press to obtain a press liquid and a solid         fraction;     -   d) centrifuging the press liquid from step c) to obtain krill         oil enriched in phospholipids;     -   e) centrifuging the decanter liquid from step b) to obtain krill         oil enriched in neutral lipids, and stick water; and     -   f) optionally, drying the press liquid from step c) to obtain a         dried complex of human-grade krill which contains krill oil in         combination with phospholipids, DHA, EPA, proteins and         astaxanthin.

As a part of the present innovation, this invention also discloses the use of special equipment, wherein such equipment is designed to avoid agitation, mincing, and/or grinding, throughout all processing steps (i.e. cooking, pumping, and so on) to reduce oil emulsification with protein, water and krill phospholipids, this last component acting as the emulsifier agent. Such equipment includes screw pumps, continuous cookers with screw conveyor at low speed, belt conveyors, screw conveyors, de-boner, chopper or similar.

Other special equipment possible to use, that has been designed to avoid agitation and/or grinding, throughout all processing steps include:

-   -   1. Krill and other crustaceans peeling machines;     -   2. Krill and other crustaceans brush peeling machines;     -   3. Krill and other crustaceans disk peeling machines;     -   4. Krill and other crustaceans coagulator machines working at         low speed;     -   5. Krill and other crustaceans dewatering machines working at         low speed; and     -   6. Krill and other crustaceans deboning machines.

Krill oils obtained using the procedure disclosed in the present invention include the neutral lipid-enriched krill oil separation from the decanter liquid obtained by using specific centrifuge separators. These centrifuge separators are specifically and only used for the decanter liquid treatment. The phospholipids-enriched krill oil is obtained from the press liquid using other specially-designed centrifuge separators. The decanter removes important neutral lipids into the decanter liquid while the phospholipids are more concentrated in the decanter cake. Therefore, each krill oil type has its own exclusive processing line composed of separators centrifuges, pumps, piping, tanks, heat exchangers and packaging station.

This invention relates to a method for obtaining specific Krill oils from Krill, preferably from South Antarctic Krill, through a processing preferably made on board (at sea), on board factory trawlers, or mother vessels. Further, the present invention is suitable for being carried out on shore (on land) processing plants. The final processing target of the processing method disclosed in this invention includes: a) cooking of whole or fraction fresh marine species without agitation and/or mincing; b) decanting of cooked marine species using a two-phase decanter and/or a three-phase decanter or any other type of decanting solution with high torque to obtain a partial de-fatted and de-watered solid and a decanter liquid; c) squeezing of the partial de-fatted and de-watered decanter solid through a simple press and/or using a twin-screw press and/or any other pressing solution to obtain a press liquid and a solid fraction which was further processed to obtain the low fat dried marine-species meal; d) centrifuging of the press liquid to obtain the phospholipids enriched marine-species oil; e) centrifuging of the decanter liquid obtained in step b) to obtain the neutral lipid enriched marine-species oil and stick water. The equipment used in this process allows avoiding agitation throughout all steps (i.e. cooking, pumping, and so on) to reduce oil emulsification with protein, water and marine species phospholipids, acting this last component as the emulsifier agent.

This invention also includes phospholipids-, neutrallipids-, omega-3's- and proteinenriched dried powder, and the use of this product as a heath product for human application, a powerful health-promoter, growth enhancer, immune-system promoter and wellness end-product. All products obtained with the procedure disclosed in this invention are produced by a non-chemical treatment, i.e. a process free of organic solvents and/or CO₂ supercritical fluid, for separating the krill oil.

The phospholipids enriched krill oil of the present invention is useful for human health application and has a total phospholipids content of about 30 to 70% w/w, preferably from about 35 to 60% w/w, and more preferably from about 35 to 55% w/w. The DHA and EPA content are from about 10 to 70% w/w, preferably from about 15 to 60% w/w, and more preferably from 20 to 55% w/w. Neutral lipids content is from 30 to 70% w/w, preferably from about 40% to 65% w/w, and more preferably from about 45 to 65% w/w. Astaxanthin content is from about 200 to 1,500 mg/kg, preferably from about 300 to 1,200 mg/kg, and more preferably from about 400 to 1,000 mg/kg.

The neutral lipid enriched krill oil of the present invention is also useful for human health application, having a content of neutral lipids from 50 to 100% w/w, preferably from 60 to 100% w/w, and more preferably from 70 to 100% w/w. DHA and EPA content are from 2 to 45% w/w, preferably from 2 to 40% w/w, and more preferably from 5 to 35% w/w. Phospholipids content is less than 10% w/w, preferably less than 5% w/w, and more preferably less than 2% w/w. Astaxanthin content is from 200 to 1,500 mg/kg, preferably from 300 to 1200 mg/kg, and more preferably from 400 to 1,000 mg/kg.

The phospholipids-enriched krill oil of the present invention is preferably produced on board (at sea) which provides having the direct advantage of using of a fresh raw krill, this way avoiding freezing of the whole or fraction raw of krill. In addition to the freshness of the said end material, on board processing also produces fresh krill meal, which can eventually be used for further krill oils extraction processes in on shore (on land) processing plants.

These preferably on board (at sea) krill oil processing methods have additional and important advantages such as avoiding frozen raw krill transportation from at Sea operations (on board) to on shore (on land) port facilities and further transportation to on shore (on land) processing plants, this way the end-products of present invention have a significantly lower cost structure.

The phospholipids-enriched krill oil of the present invention is produced preferably using on board (at sea) processes. That means the assurance of the use of highly fresh whole or fraction raw krill, avoiding phospholipids decomposition and/or lipids deterioration which may occur during certain freezing process, frozen transportation and frozen storage typically required when prior art processes are carried-out on land (on shore) premises.

This invention represents a potent krill-related environment-driven development, as among its direct benefits, it includes:

-   -   a) An overall lower catch-volume requirement to secure the same         amount output of end product as compared to other methods as         there is a more efficient processing which allows less         captured-tonnage per end-product-tonnage;     -   b) a significant reduction in processing infrastructure in         relation to any other comparable processing method as the amount         of catch and equivalent processing capacity is diminished due to         the onboard processing;     -   c) a relevant improvement of the end-product quality in terms of         freshness and its molecules quality, which means that the         benefit to the end-user, be it for human health or animal         nutrition, will be through the reduction of the market-cost per         equivalent high-quality molecule;     -   d) this invention guarantees lower processing costs which goes         to the direct benefit of end users through a lower end-product         selling price;     -   e) the biomass protection is also guaranteed as the value-added         concept is secured on board (at sea) and does not need extra         costs to transport raw material for further on shore (on land)         processing;     -   f) This invention allows having end-products secured on board         (at sea); and     -   g) This invention will also provide a much better resource         protection as the catch effort will not be focused on a limited         catch and processing period rather spread-out the entire krill         fishing season.

This invention further relates to South Antarctic Krill processing made preferably on board (at sea) factory trawlers or mother vessels. This invention also relates to krill processing made on shore (on land) processing plants whereas the on board (at sea) processing steps prevails on shore (on land). The final processing target of the processing method disclosed in this invention includes:

-   -   a) cooking of whole and fresh marine species without agitation         and or grinding;     -   b) decanting of cooked marine species using a two-phase decanter         and/or a three-phase decanter and/or any other type of decanting         solution with high torque to obtain a partial de-fatted and         de-watered solid and a decanter liquid;     -   c) squeezing of the partial de-fatted and de-watered decanter         solid through a simple press and/or using a twin-screw press         and/or any other pressing solution to obtain a press liquid and         a solid fraction which was further processed to obtain the low         fat dried marine-species meal;     -   d) centrifuging of the press liquid to obtain the phospholipids         enriched marine-species oil; and     -   e) centrifuging of the decanter liquid obtained in step b) to         obtain the neutral lipid enriched marine-species oil and stick         water.

This process uses equipment that avoid or substantially avoid agitation throughout all steps (i.e. cooking, pumping, and so on) to reduce oil emulsification with protein, water and marine-species phospholipids, which act as the emulsifier agent.

The on board (at sea) processing includes either on board factory trawlers, mother vessels acting as processors only, mother vessels acting as catchers and processors or any other combination for mother vessels, onboard tramper vessels used as processing factories and/or any other at sea processing factory vessel and/or any other at sea processing factory layout operation for this specific purposes, being the resulting marine oils obtained either as a by-product or as a final product or a combination of both.

The krill meal obtained with the process of the present invention has a fat content ranging from 5 to 15%, protein content from 60% to 70%, and moisture content from 6 to 10%.

Because both krill oil composition obtained in the present invention are not exposed to the use of any toxic or non-toxic chemicals during the process, the resulting krill oils of this invention could be safely used for human consumption according to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) (Scientific Opinion of the Panel on Dietetic Products Nutrition and Allergies on a request from the European Commission of the safety of “Lipid extract from Euphausia superba” as food ingredient. The EFSA Journal (2009). 938, 1-16).

Human health applications for the krill oils obtained in the present invention, can be, without limitation, for reducing premenstrual symptoms, preventing hypertension, control of blood glucose levels in patients, control of arthritis symptoms, prevention of hyperlipidemia and other health applications. Such oils can also be used in preparing dermatologic products, specially topic or systemic products, for treating skin diseases related to a deficiency of essential fatty acids, such as xerotic skin, hyperkeratosis, ictiosis, acne, dermic ulcers, psoriasis, serborreic eczema, atopic dermatitis, among others.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a flowchart depicting the process of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows the current processing layout using traditional process.

FIG. 3 shows the current processing layout using non-traditional process.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Before describing the present invention in detail, it should be understood that the invention as described is not to be limited in its application to the process details described herein. The invention as such, embraces other embodiments and various ways for being applied. It is also should be understood that the phraseology or terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and it is not intended for any type of limitation.

The present invention provides systems and processes for processing a marine biomass. As a preferred embodiment, the marine biomass is krill, preferably the Antarctic krill Euphasia superba. Other krill species or crustacean can also be processed using the systems and processes of the present invention. Examples of such species are E. crystallorophias, E. frigida, E. tricantha, E. vellantini, E. lougirostris, E. lucens, E. similis, E. spinifera, E. recurva, E. pacifica, Thysanoessa macrura, T. vicinia, T. gregaria, T. raschii, T inermis, Pandalus borealis, Cervimunida johni, Heterocarpus reedi or Pleuroncodes monodom. The krill is preferably processed in a fresh state as defined herein. Frozen krill is not preferred to be used with the process of the present invention, as ice crystals formed during krill freezing which can disrupt anatomical structures of the crustacean. Destruction of tissues by freezing is a well established subject in the state of art (Whittaker D K. 1984. Mechanisms of tissue destruction following cryosurgery. Ann R Coll Surg Engl. 66:313-318). Tissue disruption could favor oil emulsification during processing and also phospholipids' deterioration during frozen storage. As a preferred embodiment, the krill is processed fresh on board a fishing vessel either factory trawler, mother factory vessels, or intermediate processor or similar or whatever other ship suitable to carry out the process of this invention within a term of 14, 12, 10, 8, 6, 5, 4, 3, or preferably 2 hours of catching krill. In some embodiments, the krill is processed on board a ship within 1 hour or preferably 0.5 hours or more preferably within 20 minutes after catching the krill. Within the embodiments of the present invention, it is included that the ship tows a trawl that is configured to catch the krill and/or that the ship receives its krill or other species from fishing vessels or other factory trawlers. The krill is then transferred from the trawl to the ship and processed, preferably immediately after krill catching. The trawl comprises (either a regular fishing gear composed of trawls and/or purse seining system and/or) a pumping system to pump the freshly caught krill from the trawl to the ship so the krill can be processed in a fresh state. In some embodiments the catch system, be it regular trawl or pump system, it is designed in such a manner that substantially no damage, (deterioration) grinding or mincing is done to the krill during the pumping from the trawl to the ship.

In a preferred embodiment, the fresh whole krill or fraction is transported to the cooker using belt conveyor, or screw conveyor or screw pumping or another transport system avoiding krill agitation to avoid the oil emulsification with protein and water. The whole krill is cooked (i.e., heated) in a cooker with indirect and/or direct steam heating or another heating system, but at a low rotation speed of about 1-100 rpm, preferably 2-20 rpm, and more preferably 5-10 rpm, without agitation to avoid the oil emulsification. The krill temperature at the exit of the cooker is about 20-100° C., preferably 50-100° C., more preferably 75-100° C. and even more preferably 93-95° C., or whatever other temperatures not disclosed here but that are necessary to reach complete protein denaturation. The cooker type is not particularly restricted but as preferred embodiment this cooker must operate without agitation for avoiding the emulsification state.

In some embodiments the cooked krill is transported to the two-phase decanter using a screw conveyor or a screw pumping, or another transporting system without krill agitation for avoiding oil emulsification. The cooked krill is passed through a two phase decanter with high torque of about 1-10 kNn, preferably 1.2-5 kNn, more preferably 1.5-3 kNm, even more preferably 1.8-2.5 kNm, and a speed of about 100-1000 rpm, preferably 1000-8000 rpm, more preferably 2,000-5,000 rpm, even more preferably 3,000-4,600 rpm, for partial de-watering and partial de-fatting, separating it into a decanter solids phase and a decanter liquid phase. In some embodiments, a decanter type is not particularly restricted. The moisture content of decanter solid is about 40-80%, preferably, 50-70%, more preferably 55-67%, even more preferably 58-65%.

Table No 1 shows the lipid and moisture content of decanter solids and decanter liquids, obtained with krill catch during fatty period using a previous cooker with indirect and direct steam heating with screw conveyor at low rotation speed. The decanter solid has a lipid content range of 19.8% to 22.4% wt dry base, so the resulting hill meal with 8% of moisture from this solid will have a lipid content of about 18.2% to 20.6%. These results show that a two-phase decanter alone is not enough to reach a good de-fatting of the cooked krill for obtaining more krill oil and krill meal with a fat content lower than 18%. Anyway, this decanter solids obtained from the previous cooker at a low speed has lower lipid content and non-emulsified lipids than the process wherein a contherm cooker is used.

In some embodiments of the present invention, using a cooker calibrated for a low rotation speed, the decanter liquid obtained in such cooker is not emulsified and has higher lipid content compared to the decanter liquid using a conventional contherm cooker.

Table No 2 shows the lipid and moisture content of decanter solids and decanter liquid, wherein a contherm cooker has been previously used. This equipment is not preferred within the embodiments of this invention, as a large proportion of lipids remain in the decanter solids, and the lipids contained in the decanter liquid are emulsified. Krill oil recovery using this equipment was very low and the resulting krill meal has a high fat content, specifically over 20% when obtained in the krill fatty period.

As a preferred embodiment in the process of the present invention, the obtained decanter liquid is passed through a separator centrifuge and then through a purifier separator centrifuge, for obtaining stick water and a krill oil enriched with neutral lipids with astaxanthin and substantially free or without (or no detectable) phospholipids. The obtained stick water has a low fat content, with a maximum of about 0.3-0.5%, in a nonemulsified form suitable for further processing (concentrate production) and sludge.

In some embodiments, there is provided a process for obtaining the neutral lipid-enriched oil, which has an exclusive and separated line including: separator centrifuge, purifier separator centrifuge, pumps, piping, heat exchangers, tanks and packaging station.

In a preferred embodiment of the process of the present invention, the decanter solids phase are fed to a twin-screw press using a screw pump or a screw conveyor or other feeding system wherein agitation does not occur. The decanter solids phase are pressed using twin screw press with high pressing force or using another pressing system to release the oil with phospholipids linked to the denatured protein according to the production line for the product of the present invention. As a preferred embodiment the pressing step is carried out by continuous pressing at a full feeding condition using a 2-10 rpm speed, and more preferably 3-6 rpm and a decanter solids temperature feeding of 90-96° C. and more preferably 93-95° C. The pressing system is not particularly restricted. As described above, the decanter solids phase keeps all of the phospholipids inside of the coagulated protein, then a strong pressing of the decanter solids release an important percentage of the phospholipids to the press liquid. The moisture of this press cake is about 45-55%, preferably 48-53%. Table 3 shows the lipid and moisture content from the press cake of the present invention at different feeding levels of the twin press in the krill fatty period.

Table No 4 shows this press liquid composition in the krill fatty period. According to the process or system disclosed in the present invention, this press liquid has a high fat content in the range of about 3-25%, preferably 5-20% and more preferably 8-17% (wet base), depending on the seasonal lipid content of krill and if it is not in an emulsified form. In the traditional krill meal processing using only a twin-screw press (without prior use of a decanter) the fat content in this press liquid is lower than 0.5-3% (wet base) depending on the lipid content of krill and if it is not in an emulsified form.

In some embodiments of the present invention, there is also provided a dried complex with oil containing phospholipids with DHA and EPA, proteins and astaxanthin obtained by drying the press liquid “as-is” without centrifuge separation. Such dried complex corresponds to a human-grade krill-related product for being used in many human health applications.

In some embodiments, a synergic action of the two-phase decanter and further pressing with twin-screw press or another strong pressing system is used to release the phospholipids with DHA and EPA in the oil, mixed with astaxanthin and neutral lipids. The press liquid, at a temperature of about 25-121° C., preferably 50-110° C., more preferably 80-100° C. and even more preferably 90-96° C., is pumped to the separator centrifuge, using a screw pump or other feeding system, avoiding agitation, wherein the krill oil with phospholipids with DHA and EPA mixed with astaxanthin and neutral lipids is separated. The processing speed in the centrifuge separator operates at 4,000-8,000 rpm, more preferably at 4,600-6,800 rpm, with an automatic periodic discharge of solids. In one embodiment of the present invention, the oil separator centrifuge is not particularly restricted, i.e. any centrifuge equipment satisfying the indicated conditions can be used. This krill oil is once more centrifuged through a purifier separator to clarify it, operating at a processing speed of 5,000-10,000 rpm, more preferably at 6,000-8,200 rpm, with an automatic periodic discharge of solids for later being packaged. In the embodiments of the present invention, the purifier separator centrifuge is not particularly restricted, i.e. any centrifuge equipment satisfying the indicated conditions can be used.

As an additional preferred embodiment, the krill oil with phospholipids with DHA and EPA mixed with astaxanthin and neutral lipids, product of the present invention, is obtained using an exclusive and separated oil process line including: a separator centrifuge, a purifier separator, pumps, piping, heat exchangers, tanks and a packaging station, completely different and separated from the other oil line with neutral lipid from the decanter liquid phase.

Examples 3 and 4 show the characteristics of krill oils obtained in the present invention:

I) the neutral lipid enriched krill oil of the present invention is also useful for human health application having a content of:

-   -   neutral lipids from 50 to 100% w/w, preferably from 60 to 100%         w/w, and more preferably from 70 to 100% w/w,     -   DHA and EPA content are from 2 to 45% w/w, preferably from 2 to         40% w/w, and more preferably from 5 to 35% w/w,     -   Phospholipids content is lower than 10% w/w, preferably lower         than 5% w/w, and more preferably lower than 2% w/w, and     -   Astaxanthin content is from 200 to 1,500 mg/kg, more         specifically from 300 to 1,200 mg/kg, and even more specifically         from 400 to 1,000 mg/kg.

II) the phospholipids enriched krill oil of the present invention can be useful for human health applications, having a content of:

-   -   total phospholipids content from 30 to 70% w/w, preferably from         35 to 60% w/w, and more preferably from 35 to 55% w/w,     -   DHA and EPA content is from 10 to 70% w/w, preferably from 15 to         60% w/w, and more preferably from 20 to 55% w/w,     -   Neutral lipids content is from 30 to 70% w/w, preferably from         40% to 65% w/w, and more preferably from 45 to 65% w/w, and     -   Astaxanthin content is from 200 to 1,500 mg/kg, preferably from         300 to 1,200 mg/kg, and more preferably from 400 to 1,000 mg/kg.

According to the above declared compositions for both oil products, obtained through the process of the present invention, these oils are suitable for health human applications.

From the above, considering the composition characteristics of this krill oil and the process for obtaining the same, it can be concluded that the process of the present invention provides a krill oil product containing DHA and EPA in the phospholipids fraction with astaxanthin and neutral lipids. The present invention provides for a different process, which is new and improved, regarding all those krill oils obtained through processes involving solvent extraction and/or using supercritical fluid extraction or through thermal fractionation and centrifugation; with the resulting krill meal, in any Antarctic krill season, having a maximum fat content of 15%, a minimum protein content of 60% for a maximum moisture content of 10%.

In some embodiments, krill oils obtained with the procedure disclosed in the present invention can be stabilized by the use of antioxidants and/or preservatives and/or with a nitrogen-barred layer. Moreover, such krill oils can be stored within plastic or metal containers, necessarily suitable for food-grade, pharmaceutical-grade and/or cosmetic/grade applications, in special stainless steel containers, at room temperature or refrigerated, suitably protected from light.

In some embodiments, the present invention provides uses of krill oils for preparing krill oil compositions for being used as a dietary supplement and/or nutraceutical product. This invention also discloses pharmaceutical compositions comprising an effective amount of krill oil and at least one pharmaceutically acceptable transporter, excipient, stabilizer, diluents and/or adjuvant. In some of the embodiments, said krill oil compositions are suitable as photoprotectors. Said photoprotectors can be formulated as tanning creams and/or tanning oils. In some of the embodiments, said krill oil can be used to enhance cosmetic products. Said cosmetic products are, but no limited to, moisture creams, powder make ups, powder eye shadows, cream eye shadows compact powders and lipsticks. In some of the embodiments, said krill oil compositions can be effectively used for decreasing cholesterol plasma levels, inhibiting platelet adhesion, inhibiting artery plaque formation, preventing hypertension, controlling arthritis symptoms, preventing skin cancer, enhancing transdermal transport, reducing the symptoms of premenstrual symptoms or controlling blood glucose levels in a patient. Furthermore, in some embodiments, nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics comprising the phospholipids-enriched krill oil are also embraced by the present invention.

TABLE 1 Table 1. Lipid and moisture content of decanter solids and decanter liquids obtained with krill captured during South Antarctic's Krill fatty period using a cooker with indirect and direct steam heating system with screw conveyor operating at a low rotation speed Krill Lip- Lip- Decanter Temper- Mois- Total ids ids Torque ature ture Solids WB DB Krill Material (kNm) (° C.) (%) (%) (%) (%) Decanter Solids 2.0 94 63.1 36.9 7.3 19.8 Decanter Liquid 93.2 6.8 1.6 23.5 Decanter Solids 2.1 93 62.9 37.1 8.1 21.8 Decanter Liquid 92.7 7.3 1.8 24.7 Decanter Solids 2.0 94 61.6 38.4 7.8 20.3 Decanter Liquid 91.3 8.7 1.9 21.8 Decanter Solids 2.0 93 63.0 37.0 8.3 22.4 Decanter Liquid 91.1 8.9 1.9 21.3 WB: wet base DB: dry base

TABLE 2 Table 2. Lipid and moisture content of decanter solids and decanter liquids obtained with krill captured during South Antarctic's Krill fatty period using a contherm cooker system Krill Lip- Lip- Decanter Temper- Mois- Total ids ids Torque ature ture Solids WB DB Krill Material (kNm) (° C.) (%) (%) (%) (%) Decanter Solids 2.1 95 63.1 36.9 8.7 23.6 Decanter Liquid 92.7 7.3 1.5 20.5 Decanter Solids 2.0 96 61.9 38.1 9.3 24.4 Decanter Liquid 92.1 7.9 1.7 21.5 Decanter Solids 2.0 94 63.0 37.0 8.4 22.7 Decanter Liquid 92.3 7.7 1.5 19.5 Decanter Solids 2.0 95 63.6 36.4 8.6 23.6 Decanter Liquid 92.8 7.2 1.7 23.6 WB: wet base DB: dry base

TABLE 3 Table 3. Lipid and moisture content of the press cake of the present invention at different feeding levels of the twin press Dry Solids Moisture (%) (%) Lipids WB (%) Lipids DB (%) Press Cake 1 58.1 41.9 8.6 20.5 Press Cake 2 58.6 41.4 8.4 20.3 Press Cake 3 56.9 43.1 8.0 18.5 Press Cake 4 56.7 43.3 8.0 18.5 Press Cake 5 54.6 45.4 7.4 16.3 Press Cake 6 54.5 45.5 7.2 15.8 Press Cake 7 54.3 45.7 5.5 12.0 Press Cake 8 53.9 46.1 5.6 12.1 WB: wet base DB: dry base

Comments

Press Cake samples 1 to 6 were taken when the press was not fully fed with decanter solids

Press Cake samples 7 & 8 were taken when the press was fully fed with decanter solids

TABLE 4 Table 4. Press liquid composition with krill captured during South Antarctic's Krill fatty period Press Liquid Press Liquid Press Liquid Composition 1 2 3 Press Liquid 4 Moisture (%) 78.3 77.7 77.3 80.4 Proteins (%) 5.8 6.1 6.2 5.2 Lipids (%) 16.9 14.0 15.3 13.2

TABLE 5 Table 5. Fresh raw whole krill composition Compounds Value Moisture (%) 77.2 Proteins (%) 13.7 Lipids (%) 5.3 Ash (%) 3.0 Astaxanthin (mg/Kg) 47

TABLE 6 Table 6. Composition of the liquid and press cake phases obtained by the twin-screw press Compounds Press Liquid (%) Press Cake (%) Moisture 77.7 54.5 Proteins 6.1 32.7 Lipids 14.0 6.0 Ash 0.9 4.6

EXAMPLES

The present invention will be described in more detail using examples. It should be understood that the present invention is not limited by the following Examples.

Example 1 Process to Obtain Krill Oils and Low Fat Krill Meal of the Present Invention

The description represents an example of the process of the present invention. In FIG. 1 there is depicted a flow diagram of this process. The process clearly does not involve the use of organic solvents and/or supercritical CO₂ fluid.

Antarctic krill was captured during the period of March to May, preferably during the month of May, within krill's fatty period in the Orkney Islands fishing ground, using a pumping catch system, the Krill arriving alive on board a factory vessel and being immediately processed. Table No 5 shows the fresh raw whole krill composition used.

Whole krill was collected into bunkers to drain seawater and transported on belt conveyors to tanks from wherein it was pumped to the cooker using a screw pump.

The continuous cooker with screw conveyor used live steam to increase the krill temperature from about 0° C. to 93-95° C. The cooker screw conveyor speed was set at 7-8 rpm.

The cooked krill was then pumped to the two-phase decanter using a screw pump. The continuous working cooker with screw conveyor used live steam to increase the krill temperature from about 0° C. to 93-95° C. The cooker screw conveyor speed was set at 7-8 rpm. The cooked krill was pumped to a two-phase decanter.

The two-phase decanter operated at 3,100 rpm and a 2.0 kNm torque was used, resulting in a decanter liquid phase and a decanter solid phase. Table No 1 shows the decanter liquid and decanter solid composition.

The decanter liquid phase was collected into tanks at a temperature of 93-96° C., from wherein it was pumped with a screw pump to the separator centrifuge at a speed set at 4,600 rpm and immediately thereafter passed to a purifier separator at a speed set at 6,100 rpm, for obtaining a krill oil with neutral lipids without phospholipids. Example 3 shows this neutral lipids oil composition and characteristics.

The decanter solid phase was pressed in a twin-screw press resulting in a press liquid phase and press cake phase. Table No 6 shows the composition obtained from these two phases.

The press cake was dried until it reached a moisture content lower than 10% using a rotaplate drier. Example 5 shows the krill meal composition obtained from this test.

The press liquid at a temperature of 93-96° C. was pumped with a screw pump to a specific separator centrifuge at a speed set at 4,600 rpm and immediately thereafter to a specific purifier separator at a speed set 6,100 rpm, to separate the krill oil with phospholipids. Example 4 shows the composition characteristics of this krill oil with DHA and EPA linked to the phospholipids fraction obtained from the present experiment.

Example 2 Flow Diagram and Mass Balance of the Process to Obtain Krill Oils and Low Fat Krill Meal of the Present Invention

This example shows an estimate mass balance of a production line for the product of the present invention when raw krill is within the season when fat content is high (estimated at 5%) although not necessarily the highest fat content found in raw South Antarctic Krill and without the addition or recovery of stick water.

The following tables are an estimated mass balance of the process of the present invention without stick water recovery, utilizing raw krill with average-high fat content (around 5% w/w).

TABLE 7 Product MT/Hr Yield (%) Krill Meal (without concentrate) 1.63 16.3 Krill Oil with Phospholipids 0.22 2.2 Krill Oil with Neutral Lipids 0.07 0.7 Total 1.92 19.2

TABLE 8 FRESH RAW WHOLE KRILL Kg/Hr (%) Kg/Hr (%) DS 1,800 18.0 F 500 5.0 Phospholipids 200 40.0 Neutral Lipids 295 59.0 Cholesterol 5 1.0 M 7,700 77.0 Total 10,000 100 500 100

TABLE 9 DECANTER SOLIDS Kg/Hr (%) Kg/Hr (%) DS 1,386 28.7 F 401 8.3 Phospholipids 190 47.4 Neutral Lipids 208 51.9 Cholesterol 3 0.7 M 3,043 63.0 Total 4,830 100 401 100

TABLE 10 PRESS CAKE Kg/Hr (%) Kg/Hr (%) DS 1,248 40.8 F 160 5.2 Phospholipids 104 65.0 Neutral Lipids 54 34.0 Cholesterol 2 1.0 M 1,652 54.0 Total 3,060 100 160 100

TABLE 11 PRESS CAKE + SLUDGE Kg/Hr (%) Kg/Hr (%) DS 1,303 35.6 F 195 5.3 Phospholipids 121 62.4 Neutral Lipids 70 35.9 Cholesterol 3 1.7 M 2,162 59.1 Total 3,660 100 195 100

TABLE 12 KRILL SOLUBLES Kg/Hr (%) DS 0 0.0 F 0 0.0 M 0 0.0 Total 0 0.0

TABLE 13 FEED TO DRIERS RCD Kg/Hr (%) Kg/Hr (%) DS 1,303 35.6 F 195 5.3 Phospholipids 121 62.4 Neutral Lipids 70 35.9 Cholesterol 3 1.7 M 2,162 59.1 Total 3,660 100 195 100

TABLE 14 KRILL MEAL Kg/Hr (%) Kg/Hr (%) DS 1,303 80.0 F 195 12.0 Phospholipids 121 62.4 Neutral Lipids 70 35.9 Cholesterol 3 1.7 M 130 8.0 Total 1,628 100 195 100

TABLE 15 EVAPORATOR Kg/Hr 0

TABLE 16 EVAPORATED DRIERS RCD Kg/Hr 2,032

TABLE 17 DECANTER LIQUID Kg/Hr (%) Kg/Hr (%) DS 414 8.0 F 99 1.9 Phospholipids 10 10.1 Neutral Lipids 87 87.9 Cholesterol 2 2.0 M 4,657 90.1 Total 5,170 100 99 100

TABLE 18 OIL WITH NEUTRAL LIPIDS Kg/Hr (%) Kg/Hr (%) Oil 69 100 Phospholipids 0 0 Neutral Lipids 68 98.6 Cholesterol 1 1.4 Total 69 100 69 100

TABLE 19 PRESS LIQUID Kg/Hr (%) Kg/Hr (%) DS 139 7.8 F 241 13.6 Phospholipids 86 35.7 Neutral Lipids 153 63.7 Cholesterol 1 0.6 M 1,391 78.6 Total 1,770 100 241 100

TABLE 20 OIL WITH PHOSPHOLIPIDS Kg/Hr (%) Kg/Hr (%) Oil 220 100 Phospholipids 79 35.7 Neutral Lipids 140 63.7 Cholesterol 1 0.3 Total 220 100 219 100

TABLE 21 SLUDGE 1 Kg/Hr (%) Kg/Hr (%) DS 41 10.5 F 18 4.5 Phospholipids 10 56.1 Neutral Lipids 7 38.3 Cholesterol 1 5.6 M 336 85.0 Total 395 100 18 100

TABLE 22 SLUDGE 2 Kg/Hr (%) Kg/Hr (%) DS 14 6.8 F 17 8.2 Phospholipids 7 44.2 Neutral Lipids 9 51.7 Cholesterol 1 4.2 M 174 85.0 Total 205 100 17 100

TABLE 23 STICK WATER 1 Kg/Hr (%) Kg/Hr (%) DS 372 7.9 F 12 0.3 Phospholipids 0 0 Neutral Lipids 12 100 Cholesterol 0 0 M 4,322 91.8 Total 4,706 100 12 100

TABLE 24 STICK WATER 2 Kg/Hr (%) Kg/Hr (%) DS 125 9.3 F 4 0.3 Phospholipids 0 0 Neutral Lipids 5 100 Cholesterol 0 0 M 1,216 90.4 Total 1,345 100 5 100 DS = Dry Solids Content F = Fat Content M = Moisture Content MT = Metric Ton

The following tables shows an estimate mass balance of a production line for the product of the present invention when raw krill is within the season when fat content is high (estimated at 5%) although not necessarily the highest fat content found in raw South Antarctic Krill and with the addition or recovery of stick water.

TABLE 25 Production MT/Hr Yield (%) Krill Meal (with concentrate) 2.19 21.9 Krill Oil with Phospholipids 0.22 2.2 Krill Oil with Neutral Lipids 0.07 0.7 Total 2.47 24.7

TABLE 26 FRESH RAW WHOLE KRILL Kg/Hr (%) Kg/Hr (%) DS 1,800 18.0 F 500 5.0 Phospholipids 200 40.0 Neutral Lipids 295 59.0 Cholesterol 5 1.0 M 7,700 77.0 Total 10,000 100 500 100

TABLE 27 DECANTER SOLIDS Kg/Hr (%) Kg/Hr (%) DS 1,386 28.7 F 401 8.3 Phospholipids 190 47.4 Neutral Lipids 208 51.9 Cholesterol 3 0.7 M 3,043 63.0 Total 4,830 100 401 100

TABLE 28 PRESS CAKE Kg/Hr (%) Kg/Hr (%) DS 1,248 40.8 F 160 5.2 Phospholipids 104 65.0 Neutral Lipids 54 34.0 Cholesterol 2 1.0 M 1,652 54.0 Total 3,060 100 160 100

TABLE 29 PRESS CAKE + SLUDGE Kg/Hr (%) Kg/Hr (%) DS 1,303 35.6 F 195 5.3 Phospholipids 121 62.4 Neutral Lipids 70 36.1 Cholesterol 3 1.5 M 2,162 59.1 Total 3,660 100 195 100

TABLE 30 KRILL SOLUBLES Kg/Hr (%) Kg/Hr (%) DS 497 48.5 F 16 1.5 Phospholipids 0 0 Neutral Lipids 16 100 Cholesterol 0 0 M 513 50.0 Total 1,026 100 16 100

TABLE 31 FEED TO DRIERS RCD Kg/Hr (%) Kg/Hr (%) DS 1,800 38.4 F 211 4.5 Phospholipids 121 57.6 Neutral Lipids 86 41.0 Cholesterol 3 1.4 M 2,675 57.1 Total 4,686 100 211 100

TABLE 32 KRILL MEAL Kg/Hr (%) Kg/Hr (%) DS 1,800 82.4 F 211 9.6 Phospholipids 121 57.6 Neutral Lipids 86 41.0 Cholesterol 3 1.4 M 175 8.0 Total 2,185 100 211 100

TABLE 33 EVAPORATOR Kg/Hr 5,025

TABLE 34 EVAPORATED DRIERS RCD Kg/Hr 2,500

TABLE 35 DECANTER LIQUID Kg/Hr (%) Kg/Hr (%) DS 414 8.0 F 99 1.9 Phospholipids 10 10.1 Neutral Lipids 87 87.9 Cholesterol 2 2.0 M 4,657 90.1 Total 5,170 100 99 100

TABLE 36 OIL WITH NEUTRAL LIPIDS Kg/Hr (%) Kg/Hr (%) Oil 69 100 Phospholipids 0 0 Neutral Lipids 68 98.6 Cholesterol 1 1.4 Total 69 100 69 100

TABLE 37 PRESS LIQUID Kg/Hr (%) Kg/Hr (%) DS 139 7.8 F 241 13.6 Phospholipids 86 35.7 Neutral Lipids 153 63.7 Cholesterol 1 0.6 M 1,391 78.6 Total 1,770 100 241 100

TABLE 38 OIL WITH PHOSPHOLIPIDS Kg/Hr (%) Kg/Hr (%) Oil 220 100 Phospholipids 79 35.7 Neutral Lipids 140 63.7 Cholesterol 1 0.5 Total 220 100 220 100

TABLE 39 SLUDGE 1 Kg/Hr (%) Kg/Hr (%) DS 41 10.5 F 18 4.5 Phospholipids 10 56.1 Neutral Lipids 7 38.3 Cholesterol 1 5.6 M 336 85.0 Total 395 100 18 100

TABLE 40 SLUDGE 2 Kg/Hr (%) Kg/Hr (%) DS 14 6.8 F 17 8.2 Phospholipids 7 44.2 Neutral Lipids 9 53.5 Cholesterol 0 2.4 M 174 85.0 Total 205 100 17 100

TABLE 41 STICK WATER 1 Kg/Hr (%) Kg/Hr (%) DS 372 7.9 F 12 0.3 Phospholipids 0 0 Neutral Lipids 12 100 Cholesterol 0 0 M 4,322 91.8 Total 4,706 100 12 100

TABLE 42 STICK WATER 2 Kg/Hr (%) Kg/Hr (%) DS 125 9.3 F 4 0.3 Phospholipids 0 0 Neutral Lipids 4 100 Cholesterol 0 0 M 1,216 90.4 Total 1,345 100 4 100

Example 3 Composition of the Neutral Lipid Enriched Krill Oil of the Present Invention

TABLE 43 Neutral Lipids % w/w Triglycerides 84.6 Diglycerides 4.9 Free Fatty Acids ND Monoglycerides ND Total 89.5 Phospholipids ND <0.5 alpha-Tocopherol 0.7 FAME (Fatty Acid Methyl Fatty acid Analysis Ester) % w/w Total Sample  8:0 0.0  9:0 0.0 10:0 0.0 11:0 0.0 12:0 0.3 13:0 0.0 14:0 16.3 15:0 0.5 16:0 18.2 17:0 0.3 18:0 1.5 19:0 1.0 20:0 0.0 22:0 0.1 23:0 0.0 24:0 0.0 Saturated Total 38.3 11:1 0.0 13:1 0.0 14:1 0.2 16:1 9.5 17:1 1.2 18:1 cis 14.6 18:1 trans 6.4 20:1 1.2 22:1 0.1 24:1 0.0 Monounsaturated Total 33.2 18:2 1.3 18:3 (6,9,12) 0.2 18:3 (9,12,15) 0.6 20:2 0.0 20:3 (8,11,14) 0.0 20:4 0.0 20:3 (5,8,11) 0.2 20:5 3.3 22:2 0.2 22:3 0.0 22:4 0.0 22:5 N3 0.1 22:6 1.1 Polyunsaturated Total 7.1 Total All 78.6 ND = Not Detected

Example 4 Composition of the Phospholipids'Enriched Krill Oil of the Present Invention

TABLE 44 Lipid Class Composition (% total lipid)* Sterol esters 1.2 Triacylglycerols 45.6 Free fatty acids 3.4 Cholesterol/sterols 4.3 Diacylglycerols** 7.7 Monoacylglycerols 0.9 Total neutral lipids 63.1 Phosphatidylcholine 25.2 Phosphatidylethanolamine 7.3 Phosphatidylserine 1.5 Phosphatidylinositol 1.3 Phosphatidylglycerol + cardiolipin 1.0 Lysophosphatidylcholine 0.6 Total polar lipids 36.9 Values are means of duplicate analyses *as determined by HPTLC/densitometry. **contains pigments.

Fatty Acid Composition of Total Lipid

TABLE 45 % total fatty acids 14:0 12.55 br 15:0 0.28 15:0 0.48 br 16:0 0.13 16:0 21.67 br 17:0 0.43 17:0 0.10 18:0 1.47 20:0 0.29 Total saturated 37.39 16:1n-9 0.38 16:1n-7 6.81 16:1 isomer 0.60 17:1n-8 0.29 18:1n-9 12.21 18:1n-7 7.43 20:1n-11 0.07 20:1n-9 0.93 20:1n-7 0.42 22:1n-11 0.53 22:1n-9 0.14 24:1n.9 0.21 Total monounsaturated 30.02 18:2n-6 1.74 18:3n-6 0.17 20:2n-6 0.08 20:3n-6 0.10 20.4n-6 0.33 Total n-6 PUFA (Polyunsaturated Fatty 2.43 Acids) 18:3n-3 0.98 18:4n-3 3.24 20:3n-3 0.10 20:4n-3 0.34 20:5n-3 15.20 22:5n-3 0.40 22:6n-3 7.55 Total n-3 PUFA 27.81 16:2 0.69 16:3 0.27 16:4 1.38 Total 16C PUFA 2.35 TOTAL PUFA 32.59 Total 100.00 Values are means of duplicate analyses Limit of quantification (LOQ) for fatty acid analysis = 0.06%

Fatty Acid Composition of Phosphatidylcholine/Lysophosphatidylcholine

TABLE 46 % total fatty acids 14:0 2.79 br 15:0 0.10 15:0 0.37 br 16:0 0.12 16:0 27.17 br 17:0 0.47 17:0 0.15 18:0 1.04 20:0 0.22 Total saturated 32.44 16:1n-9 0.15 16:1n-7 1.73 16:1 isomer 0.28 17:1n-8 0.14 18:1n-9 4.46 18:1n-7 5.14 20:1n-11 <LOQ 20:1n-9 0.60 20:1n-7 0.27 22:1n-11 1.12 22:1n-9 0.50 24:1n.9 0.46 Total monounsaturated 14.87 18:2n-6 1.55 18:3n-6 0.27 20:2n-6 <LOQ 20:3n-6 0.10 20.4n-6 0.59 Total n-6 PUFA 2.50 18:3n-3 1.05 18:4n-3 1.98 20:3n-3 0.14 20:4n-3 0.47 20:5n-3 31.50 22:5n-3 0.63 22:6n-3 14.09 Total n-3 PUFA 49.87 16:2 0.10 16:3 0.12 16:4 0.11 Total 16C PUFA 0.33 TOTAL PUFA 52.70 Total 100.00 Values are means of duplicate analyses Limit of quantification (LOQ) for fatty acid analysis = 0.06%

Fatty Acid Composition of Phosphatidylethanolamine

TABLE 47 % total fatty acids 14:0 0.56 br 15:0 0.07 15:0 0.20 br 16:0 0.17 16:0 14.65 br 17:0 0.39 17:0 0.83 18:0 1.24 20:0 <LOQ Total saturated 18.11 16:1n-9 0.25 16:1n-7 0.61 16:1 isomer 0.27 17:1n-8 <LOQ 18:1n-9 3.92 18:1n-7 14.03 20:1n-11 <LOQ 20:1n-9 0.48 20:1n-7 0.10 22:1n-11 <LOQ 22:1n-9 <LOQ 24:1n.9 0.08 Total monounsaturated 19.79 18:2n-6 0.95 18:3n-6 0.49 20:2n-6 0.15 20:3n-6 0.15 20.4n-6 1.35 Total n-6 PUFA 3.10 18:3n-3 0.38 18:4n-3 0.25 20:3n-3 0.14 20:4n-3 0.42 20:5n-3 23.35 22:5n-3 0.75 22:6n-3 33.12 Total n-3 PUFA 58.43 16:2 0.14 16:3 0.17 16:4 0.27 Total 16C PUFA 0.58 TOTAL PUFA 62.10 Total 100.00 Values are means of duplicate analyses Limit of quantification (LOQ) for fatty acid analysis = 0.06%

Fatty Acid Composition of Triacylglycerol

TABLE 48 % total fatty acids 14:0 20.52 br 15:0 0.42 15:0 0.61 br 16:0 0.15 16:0 21.85 br 17:0 0.48 17:0 0.09 18:0 1.67 20:0 0.31 Total saturated 46.11 16:1n-9 0.21 16:1n-7 9.90 16:1 isomer 0.72 17:1n-8 0.36 18:1n-9 16.76 18:1n-7 8.26 20:1n-11 0.08 20:1n-9 1.14 20:1n-7 0.55 22:1n-11 0.24 22:1n-9 0.11 24:1n.9 <LOQ Total monounsaturated 38.32 18:2n-6 1.79 18:3n-6 0.22 20:2n-6 <LOQ 20:3n-6 <LOQ 20.4n-6 0.08 Total n-6 PUFA 2.09 18:3n-3 0.86 18:4n-3 3.40 20:3n-3 0.07 20:4n-3 0.17 20:5n-3 4.05 22:5n-3 0.20 22:6n-3 1.49 Total n-3 PUFA 10.22 16:2 1.00 16:3 0.37 16:4 1.88 Total 16C PUFA 3.25 TOTAL PUFA 15.57 Total 100.00 Values are means of duplicate analyses Limit of quantification (LOQ) for fatty acid analysis = 0.06%

Lipid class composition of lipid samples and fatty acid compositions of individual lipids were determined by high performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) and quantitation using a scanning densitometry according to Henderson and Tocher (Henderson, R. J. and Tocher, D. R. (1992) Thin-layer chromatography. In Lipid Analysis: A Practical Approach (Hamilton, R. J., and Hamilton, S., eds.) pp. 65-111, Oxford University Press, Oxford).

Example 5 Other Characteristics of the Krill Oil of the Present Invention

TABLE 49 Composition Vitamin E Composition (*) in mg/Kg 13.80 Peroxide Value (*) in Meq/Kg 0.0 Iodine Value (IV) (**) (g/100 g) 150.37 (*) Calculated in Duplicate (**) Calculated by the modification of Ham et al. (J.A.O.C.S. 75, 1445-1446(1998)) of the AOCS recommended practice Cd 1c-85.

Example 6 Heavy Metals Content for the Krill Oil of the Present Invention

TABLE 50 Neptune Present Invention Bioressouces 999 (Triple Nine) Heavy Metal %/w %/w %/w Antimony ppm <0.02 <0.03 <0.02 Arsenic ppm <0.05 2.31 4.49 Bismuth ppm <0.02 0.17 <0.02 Cadmium ppm <0.02 <0.03 0.07 Copper ppm <0.04 0.21 13.1 Lead ppm <0.02 0.09 0.27 Mercury ppm <0.02 <0.03 <0.04 Molybdenum ppm <0.02 <0.03 0.06 Silver ppm <0.02 <0.03 0.45 Tin ppm <0.02 <0.03 0.05 Total ppm <0.05 2.78 18.49

Example 7 Composition of the Low Fat Krill Meal of the Present Invent with Krill Captured During South Antarctic's Krill Fatty Period

TABLE 51 Compounds Value Moisture (%) 8.0 Proteins (%) 66.1 Lipids (%) 12.1 Ash (%) 9.3 Astaxanthin (mg/Kg) 119

Example 8 Dietary Supplement (Nutraceutical/Dietary) Based on Krill Oil

It is described a food rich in fat material for complementing essential fatty acids. Such food was formulated in cookie form elaborated using krill oil, krill meal or krill dried complex.

In a bowl 400 g Quaker was mixed with 100 g of flour, 500 g of sugar, 1 egg, 150 mL of krill oil of this invention and 10 mL of vanilla extract. Once completely homogenized, the cookies were molded weighing each 25 g, and were baked at 160° C. for 15 min as longer cooking times destroys the astaxanthin.

The amount of cookies used in the diets will depend on the amount of essential fatty acids such as 18:2 and 18:3 required, and the necessary calories.

Example 9 Photoprotector

The krill oil prepared as described in the examples 3 and 4 can be used for the preparation of tanning creams and tanning oils for solar protection.

A) Tanning Creams.

In this example are described two tanning creams, one with solar protection factor 5 (SPF5) and one with solar protection factor 20 (SPF20).

TABLE 52 Composition per 100 g of Tanning Cream Component SPF 5 SPF 20 Krill Oil 5.00 g 5.00 g Carbopol 940 0.25 g 0.25 g Cetilic alcohol 0.50 g 0.50 g Methyl paraben 0.15 g 0.15 g Estearic acid III pr. 2.00 g 2.00 g Propyl paraben 0.15 g 0.15 g Panalen 5.00 g 5.00 g EDTA disodium 0.10 g 0.10 g Triethanolamine 0.50 g 0.50 g Propylenglycol 2.50 g 2.50 g Octylmethoxycinamate — 7.50 g Benzophenone 3 — 3.00 g Titanium dioxide — 0.50 g Imidazolidinilurea 0.30 g 0.30 g Glyceril monoestearate 1.00 g 1.00 g Natural essence c.s. c.s. Isopropyl miristate 2.00 g 2.00 g Water c.s. c.s.

B) Tanning Oil:

The following description corresponds to tanning oil that contains krill oil as the unique sun-blocking agent.

TABLE 53 Compound Composition per 100 g of Tanning Oil Cosmetic liquid Vaseline 80.0 g Hydrogenated polybutenes  5.0 g Krill oil 14.7 g Essence  0.3 g

Example 10 Cosmetic Products Based on Krill Oil

Since krill oil has several biological activities, such as being a pigmentant, antioxidant capacity, EPA and essential fatty acids content, it is possible to design cosmetic products.

A) Moisturizing Cream.

TABLE 54 Composition per 100 g of Compound Moisturizing Cream Estearic acid 1.0 g Anionic glyceril monoestearate A.E. 0.7 g Neutral glyceril monoesteararte 0.5 g Hydrogenated polybutenes 3.2 g Krill oil 10.0 g  Propylenglycol 2.0 g Isopropyl miristate 1.5 g Carboxyvinyl polymer 0.3 g Propylparabene 0.1 g Methylparabene 0.1 g Essence 0.3 g EDTA disodium 0.2 g Triethanolamine 99% 1.2 g Demineralized water 78.9 g 

B) Powder Makeup.

In this example a base formula for the elaboration of powder makeup that contains 10% (w/w) krill oil is described.

TABLE 55 Compound Composition per 100 g of Makeup Talcum powder 52.56 g  Krill oil 10.00 g  Mica:Titanuim dioxide 26.00 g  (2:1) Magnesium estearate 3.50 g Isopropyl miristate 1.60 g Oleic alcohol 2.60 g Octylpalmitate 3.40 g Methylparabene 0.17 g Propylparabene 0.17 g

C) Powder Eye Shadow.

In this example a base formula for the elaboration of a powder eyeshadow that contains 10% (w/w) krill oil of this invention is described.

TABLE 56 Compound Composition per 100 g of Eye Shadow Talcum powder 51.46 g  Krill oil 10.00 g  Mica:Titanium dioxide (3:1) 27.00 g  Magnesium estearate 3.50 g Isopropyl miristate 1.60 g Oleic alcohol 2.60 g Octylpalmitate 3.50 g Methylparabene 0.17 g Propylparabene 0.17 g

D) Cream Eye Shadow

In this example a base formula for the elaboration of a cream eyeshadow that contains 5.7% (w/w) krill oil of this invention is described.

TABLE 57 Composition per 100 g of Compound Eye Shadow Talcum powder 4.0 g Estearic acid 9.5 g Isoestearic acid 1.9 g Krill Oil 5.7 g Titanium dioxide 1.9 g Aluminum and magnesium silicate 3.6 g Propylenglycol 16.1 g  Triethanolamine 11.0 g  Methylparabene 0.2 g Propylparabene 0.2 g Deionized water 45.9 g 

E) Compact Powder.

In this example a base formula for the elaboration of a compact powder that contains 10% (w/w) krill oil of the present invention is described.

TABLE 58 Composition per 100 g of Compound Compact Powder Kaolin 32.0 g  Krill Oil 10.0 g  Mica:Titanium dioxide (2:1) 1.6 g Magnesium estearate 4.1 g Octylpalmitate 2.5 g Propylparabene 0.5 g Talcum powder 49.3 g 

F) Lipstick.

In this example a base formula for a lipstick that contains 3% (w/w) krill oil is described.

TABLE 59 Compound Composition per 100 g of Lipstick Castor Oil 42.04 g  Krill Oil 3.00 g Oleic alcohol 2.60 g Lanolin 25.00 g  Sorbitan monoestearate 1.30 g Ozokerite 4.50 g Carnauba wax 5.20 g Beeswax 5.60 g Estearic acid 4.90 g Candle wax 5.60 g Methylparabene 0.13 g Propylparabene 0.13 g

Example 11 Pharmaceutical Products Based on Krill Oil

Krill and/or marine oil has been shown to decrease cholesterol in vivo. It also inhibits platelet adhesion and plaque formation and reduces vascular endothelial inflammation in a patient. It can offer hypertension prophylaxis. It prevents oxidation of low-density lipoprotein. It may have an inhibitory effect on the secretion of VLDL due to increased intracellular degradation of apo B-100. It also offers a post-myocardial infarction prophylaxis because of its ability to decrease CIII apolipoprotein B, to decrease CIII non-apolipoprotein B lipoproteins and to increase antithrombin III levels. Krill and/or marine oil is suitable for prophylactic usage against cardiovascular disease in human where cardiovascular disease relates to coronary artery disease, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, ischemic disease (relating to angina, myocardial infarction, cerebral ischemia, shock without clinical or laboratory evidence of ischemia, arrhythmia).

A pharmaceutical composition of krill oil of this invention comprises capsules containing 1 mL of krill oil described in examples 3 and 4. A pharmaceutical composition of krill dried complex of this invention comprises capsules containing 1 to 5 g of krill dried complex. 

1. A solvent-free process for producing krill oil, wherein the process comprises the following steps: a) cooking whole fresh krill and/or a fraction thereof at high temperature sufficient for protein denaturation while substantially avoiding emulsification in this step and in further processing steps; b) separating the cooked krill from step a) using a decanter to obtain a partially de-fatted and de-watered solid and a decanter liquid; c) squeezing the partially de-fatted and de-watered solid from step b) to obtain a press liquid and a solid fraction; d) separating the press liquid from step c) to obtain krill oil enriched in phospholipids; e) separating the decanter liquid from step b) to obtain krill oil enriched in neutral lipids, and stick water; and f) optionally, drying the press liquid from step c) to obtain a dried complex of human-grade krill which contains krill oil in combination with phospholipids, DHA, EPA, proteins and astaxanthin, wherein steps a) through f) are carried out while substantially avoiding emulsification.
 2. A solvent-free process for the production of krill oil, carried out on board at sea wherein the process comprises: a) cooking whole fresh krill and/or fraction thereof at high temperature while avoiding emulsification in this step and in further processing steps; b) separating the cooked krill from step a) to obtain a partially de-fatted and de-watered solid and a decanter liquid; c) squeezing the solid from step b) to obtain a press liquid and a solid fraction; d) separating the press liquid from step c) to obtain krill oil enriched in phospholipids; e) separating the decanter liquid from step b) to obtain krill oil enriched in neutral lipids, and stick water; and f) optionally, drying the press liquid from step c) to obtain a dried complex of human-grade krill which contains krill oil in combination with phospholipids, DHA, EPA, proteins and astaxanthin, wherein the process is carried out on board at sea and steps a) through f) are carried out while substantially avoiding emulsification.
 3. The process according to claim 1 wherein the cooking of step a) is carried out using indirect and/or direct steam heating or another heating system.
 4. The process according to claim 3, wherein the heating system has a low rotation speed of about 1-100 rpm.
 5. The process according to claim 1, wherein a temperature at the exit of a cooker is of about 20-100° C.
 6. The process according to claim 1, wherein a torque of the decanter of step b) is about 1-10 kNn.
 7. The process according to claim 1, wherein the decanter of step b) has a speed of 100-1,000 rpm.
 8. The process according to claim 1, wherein the decanter of step b) is selected from the group consisting of a traditional decanter, preferably a two-phase decanter, a triple-phase decanter, and any other decanter that minimizes agitation, grinding and/or mincing of the krill.
 9. The process according to claim 1, wherein the separating of steps d) and e) is carried out first in a separator centrifuge and then in a purifier separator centrifuge, wherein from step d) is obtained krill oil enriched in phospholipids and from step e) is obtained krill oil enriched in neutral lipids, wherein each krill oil type has a separate and exclusive separator centrifuge and purifier separator centrifuge.
 10. The process according to claim 1, wherein the squeezing of the partially de-fatted and de-watered solid in step c) is carried out by feeding the solid to a screw pump or a screw conveyor or any other feeding system avoiding agitation, and pressing the solid using a screw press with a speed of about 2-10 rpm, and wherein the temperature of the fed solid is about 90-96° C.
 11. The process according to claim 10, wherein the screw press is selected from the group consisting of a simple screw press, a twin-screw press and any other pressing combination.
 12. The process according to claim 1, wherein the separating of the press liquid in step d) is carried out by pumping the press liquid to a separator centrifuge at a temperature of about 25-121° C.
 13. The process according to claim 1, wherein the solid fraction obtained in step c) is further processed to obtain low-fat krill meal.
 14. The process according to claim 1, wherein antioxidants and/or preservatives are added to the obtained krill oil, optionally under a nitrogen barred layer.
 15. The process according to claim 1, wherein the obtained krill oil is stored in plastic or metal containers or any other food-grade and/or pharmaceutical-grade packaging solution, at room temperature or refrigerated, and protected from light.
 16. The process according to claim 1, wherein such process is carried out within factory trawlers, mother vessels acting as processors only, mother vessels acting as catchers and processors, any other combination of mother vessels, onboard tramper vessels used as processing factories and/or any other factory vessel processing at sea and/or any other factory layout operation processing at sea, and the resulting krill-derived product being obtained either as a by-product or as a final product or a combination of both.
 17. The process according to claim 1, wherein the whole fresh krill and/or fraction thereof of step a) is fresh raw material.
 18. The process according to claim 1, wherein such process is carried out onshore (on land).
 19. The krill oil enriched in neutral lipids which is obtained by the process according to claim 1, wherein the krill oil comprises: neutral lipids from about 50 to 100% w/w; DHA and EPA from about 2 to 45% w/w; phospholipids less than about 10% w/w; and astaxanthin from about 200 to 1,500 mg/kg.
 20. The krill oil enriched in phospholipids which is obtained by the process according to claim 1, wherein the krill oil comprises: total phospholipids from about 30 to 70% w/w; w/w, DHA and EPA from about 10 to 70% w/w; neutral lipids from about 30 to 70% w/w; astaxanthin from about 200 to 1,500 mg/kg; free fatty acids in an amount of from about 3.4% w of total lipids; phosphatidylserine in an amount of about 1.5% w of total lipids; and lysophosphatidylcholine in an amount of about 0.6% w of total lipids.
 21. The dried complex containing krill oil in combination with phospholipids, DHA, EPA, proteins and astaxanthin obtained by a process according to claim 1, wherein such dried complex is obtained by drying the press liquid from step c) using a conventional dryer, freeze dryer, spray dryer or any other type of dryer.
 22. The low fat krill meal obtained by the process according to claim 13, wherein the low fat krill meal has a fat content from about 5 to 15%, a protein content from about 60% to 70%, and a moisture content from about 6 to 10%.
 23. A pharmaceutical, neutraceutical or cosmetic product comprising the krill oil obtained by the process of claim
 1. 24. A dermatological product comprising the krill oil obtained by the process of claim 1, wherein the dermatological product a topic or a systemic product.
 25. (canceled)
 26. A method of treating skin diseases related to deficiency of essential fatty acids comprising administering to a mammal in need thereof the krill oil obtained by the process of claim 1, wherein the skin disease is selected from the group consisting of xerotic skin, hyperkeratosis, ictiosis, acne, dermic ulcers, psoriasis, serborreic eczema, and atopic dermatitis.
 27. A krill-derived product comprising krill oils, krill meal or krill dried complex obtained by the process of claim 1, wherein such krill-derived product comprises antimony <0.02 ppm, arsenic <0.05 ppm, bismuth <0.02 ppm, cadmium <0.02 ppm, copper <0.04 ppm, lead <0.02 ppm, mercury <0.02 ppm, molybdenum <0.02 ppm, silver <0.02 ppm, and tin <0.02 ppm.
 28. The press liquid obtained from step c) of claim 1, wherein the press liquid has a protein content of from about 5.2 to about 6.2% w of the press liquid. 